Public Enemy Number One Convicted, Will Spend Life in Prison

For Immediate Release 3/10/2017

East Baltimore — Dontae Breeden was sentenced to Life plus 23 years after being convicted by a Baltimore City jury in February. Breeden was found guilty of the first degree murder of 18-year-old Rykeise Shaw, as well as handgun violations, including Use of a Handgun in the Commission of a Crime of Violence. Breeden was designated as “Public Enemy Number One” by the Baltimore Police Department in January 2016.

Assistant State’s Attorney Michael J. Dunty prosecuted the case.

On December 28, 2015 at approximately 1:30 a.m., Shaw approached the corner store in the 1000 block of Greemount Avenue on the border of Baltimore’s Johnston Square and Penn-Fallsway neighborhoods. Shaw stopped to look at items a man was selling outside of the store. Breeden—who was inside the store— exited, shot the teenager in the head, walked to his vehicle, and drove away.

Shaw was taken to Johns Hopkins Hospital where he was pronounced dead. A witness identified Breeden as the person with the handgun prior to the shooting, which was corroborated by video surveillance./p>

Breeden was convicted of attempted second degree murder in 1998.

“Breeden does not respect the value of human life—for this reason, he will spend the rest of his days on this earth behind bars,” said State’s Attorney Marilyn Mosby. “Knowing the pain of losing a loved one with so much of their life ahead of them, my prayers are with the family and friends of Mr. Shaw.”

Breeden is one of nearly a half dozen defendants designated as Public Enemy Number One by the Baltimore Police Department convicted since 2014.